10am Saturday, March 7th at Trout Mountain Coffeehouse in Tellico Plains, TN.

Our first meeting of the year was great fun! We brought herbal books, essential oils, seeds and dried herbs to share.

We also chose a new book for 2026 Herbal Chats. The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion by Amy K Fewell.

Amy’s book was highly recommended by several herbalists in our group. The book is recommended to join our chats, but not required.

Our goal for 2026 Herbal Chats is to build our home apothecaries.

The Homesteader’s Herbal Companion will help us on our way with:

• choosing the best herbs for an herbal garden

• herbal remedy recipes

• tips on preserving your harvest

• ways to work with herbs to maintain the health of livestock

Please come as you are and bring a friend. All levels of herbalists are welcome.

You might be an urban herbalist with a windowsill garden or a country herbalist with an acre or more. Amy’s book has helpful information for all of us.

If you can’t make an in-person chat, and are interested in an online Herbal Chat once a month, let me know. If we have enough interest, I will be happy to create an online monthly chat.

Wishing you herbal joy,

Anne Margaret

I am catching up on posting my Herb of the Month writings. Here is a little story to illustrate the invitation and gifts of pine.

__________________________

Pinus strobus – white pine

Family: Pinaceae

Energetics: warm, dry, tonifying

Taste: pungent, bitter, sour

Medicinal parts: leaves (needles), resin

Affinities: respiratory and immune systems

Actions: aromatic, antimicrobial, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, vulnerary, exhilarant, stimulating expectorant, anticatarrhal

________________________

White Pine’s Invitation

What would White Pine say if she were introducing herself to you?
Imagine meeting Pine in the forest.

As you enter the forest on this cold winter’s day, White Pine’s evergreen branches stretch tall above your head.
She stands among her pine relatives—some older and taller, some younger and no taller than your knees.
They welcome you into their shelter; their sweet aroma surrounds you.
You take a deep breath, and the tension melts from your shoulders.

A smile slowly spreads across your face until you can’t help but grin and laugh out loud. You are delighted by how easily your worries fall away as joy rises instead.

Pine invites you to walk beneath her branches. The ground is blanketed with her fallen needles, and you discover that she has gifted you some branches from yesterday’s storm.

White Pine tells you that she is glad you’ve come here to acknowledge her beauty and receive her gifts. She invites you to connect with her plant relatives and work with them mindfully.

Pine reminds you that your grandmothers, many generations ago, stood beneath her branches to receive the wisdom of plant medicine. “We, the pine trees, are among your oldest and tallest herbal allies. We have been living for hundreds of years.”

Now, imagine that your great-great-great-grandmother is standing here with you beneath the towering evergreens.

Grandmother shows you how to identify white pine by the needles, which grow in bundles of five, each 2–5 inches long.

She teaches you that it’s better to visit pine after the storms and collect fallen branches, rather than to break the branches from the tree.

She explains that working mindfully with plants means caring for them as well.

Becoming an herbalist isn’t just about the medicine—it’s about nurturing the plants that offer it.

Together, you walk home, where you gently push the broken ends of the branches into the snowbank outside the kitchen door.

Here, in the snow, pine will stay fresh, and the needles will remain green. As long as they stay fragrant and vibrant, they are still medicinal.

You collect enough needles for tea and go inside to set the kettle on the stove.

Grandmother invites you to sit at the kitchen table with her, placing a hot cup of white pine tea before you.
The steam rises, and again you sigh, smiling.
Together, you sip the tea and savor its gentle evergreen flavor.

Warm inside the kitchen on this cold winter day, Grandmother explains the gifts of pine.

As you drink, it’s easy to feel pine’s warm, dry, tonifying energy.
The chill of winter fades as warmth spreads through your body.
The tea is aromatic, with a pungent, slightly sour, and bitter taste.
As your breathing deepens, you recognize pine’s affinity for the respiratory system.
The tartness is a clue to the ascorbic acid (vitamin C) that supports your immune system.

Grandmother explains that pine tea can be used as a wound wash or a mouthwash— pine is astringent, antiseptic, and antimicrobial.

A pine steam relieves coughs and congestion, acting as a stimulating expectorant.

Pine needles can also be infused into oil, which can be rubbed over the chest or back.

Even pine resin can be used topically to support wound healing.

________________________

I hope you enjoyed my story about our herbal ally pine. As always, be sure to learn about any plant look-alikes as you learn to identify an herb.

- Cautions for pine -

Look for white pine by checking the number and shape of the needles. Many Pinaceae plants are safe to work with. Avoid the Yew tree, which has single flat needles and red berries. It can be deadly.

Warm sunshine and temperatures in the 60s (Fahrenheit) promised spring would return and tempted me outside again. 

To my delight, the mornings were warm enough to sit outside on the porch

and watch …

Read more

I began my herbalism studies in the winter. 

Winter evenings are long and dark here in Tennessee.

I was looking for a way to stay connected to nature

and to keep my mind positively focused.  

For years, I resisted the cold, darkness of winter,

with its longer nights and shorter days. 

I complained.

I stayed indoors.

I accepted depression as a necessary evil.

In recent years,

I have said “No More” resisting winter

I have asked instead,

“What is winter inviting me to receive?”

and I fell in love

with the smell of the pine trees

and the sound of the river

on long walks up mountain roads

that led me to discover old cabins, schoolhouses and cemeteries.

The history of these spaces invited me to wonder

about the lives of the women who lived there,

before electricity and air conditioning,

when wood stoves warmed houses,

and mothers and grandmothers cooked meals lovingly made

from food that the families grew themselves.

Now winter is for me…

the warmth of a fire in the morning

as my hands enjoy holding a hot mug of coffee

spiced with cinnamon and honey;

the invitation of a cozy kitchen

with simmering pots on the stove

as tantalizing smells of herbs and spices

fill the air;

time for winter hikes and adventures in the mountains

where I find the beauty of a winter wonderland

after the snow falls on the pines

and I believe that,

The coldest winter day

is made warmer

when friends gather

when food is shared

and that finding herbal joy

is as easy as boiling water

 for a cup of tea.

So, here I am, inviting you to join me in choosing Herbal Joy!

Herbal Joy In The Kitchen is a seasonal class that I offer in person in Tellico Plains, Tn.

I teach about herbs as food and share recipes that include seasonal herbs.

Every body is different, and I invite you to include your body’s awareness as you choose herbs to add to your recipes and your life.

Welcome to

Winter Herbal Joy In The Kitchen

where we acknowledge

that as the seasons change, new herbal friends invite us to play

that working with herbs adds life and sparkle to food

and that for each of us, our body is our best guide

as we learn to choose herbs for support

In December 2023,

Winter Herbal Joy In The Kitchen

invites you on

A Chai Tea Adventure

This year, as winter approaches, my body is asking for Chai tea.

Not just for a cup of Chai tea, but for an adventure with Chai tea!

What fun can we have exploring and playing with Chai?

Chai has a rich history in India, where it is a daily beverage.

Some of you may already have a deep friendship with Chai.

I did not happen to grow up in a family that drank chai tea.

So, in my early 40s, chai tea was something I ordered at Starbucks. 

That might be where you are today. 

And what if that’s ok?   

And what if that Starbucks chai beverage is an invitation to herbal possibilities?

When you taste chai tea, listen to your body.

How does it smell? 

Sit a moment before drinking and breathe in the aroma.

What individual scents can you identify?

How does taking the time to enjoy the aroma make your body feel?

Take a sip, and savor all the flavors in your mouth.

Which flavors does your body desire more of? 

Which could your body do without?

What if your body is inviting you to more awareness and adventure with herbs?

When I tasted my first chai tea at Starbucks,

my body said -  hey! There’s something here that I love. 

And how can I have more of that in a way that works for me without all the sweet?

For me, Starbucks was too sweet,

and my body asked for more chai, but less sugar please.  

So, I searched the supermarket shelves for chai tea bags.  

I began making chai tea at home – no sugar no cream - instead of coffee in the morning.

Then, a friend served me chai tea with homemade whipped cream, and I smiled.  

My body does not desire whipped cream every day, but it is a wonderful treat that I enjoy.  And it was an invitation to play further with Chai.

I found that my personal sweet spot when drinking Chai is to add a splash of heavy cream, just enough to soften the color and the flavor.   

A fun thing about herbs

is that there is no one right way to enjoy an herb or a tea blend.

Each person can enjoy the adventure of discovering

which herbs make their body smile!

This year, my adventure with chai tea begins with collecting recipes from other herbalists. 

I found several from Rosemary Gladstar and Rosalee De La Foret to play with. 

(See links below.)

Next, I collected the ingredients – high quality dried herbs for blending.  Local organic herbs are wonderful.  When they are not available, I often order from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Rosalee’s recipe encouraged me to invite in a new herbal ally - astragalus.

Astragalus

You might not have met Astragalus yet. 

I had already ordered some astragalus for the winter to add more nourishment to broths.  So, adding her to chai tea was an easy yes for me.

Astragalus is a root that comes to Western herbalism from Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is an important qi tonic.  Qi is vital energy, and astragalus is considered to be an immune-building and supportive herb.

There are some cautions on taking astragalus if you are acutely ill or on certain medications.   As always, please work with several trusted resources and listen to your body when working with herbs.

Ahhh…The smell of chai tea simmering on the stove in the kitchen is a winter delight!

Thank you for joining me on this chai tea adventure.

My friendship with chai tea has deepened as I have chosen the herbs, enjoyed their aromatics, tasted them individually and savored them as a blend.

Studying and working with chai tea and astragalus has been a fun way to accept the invitation to make new winter herbal allies.

In Spring, I will offer another Herbal Joy In The Kitchen class. 

As the days grow warmer, the plants will again offer us new herbal allies and nourishment for our bodies.

Please keep an eye out on Substack for Spring Herbal Joy In The Kitchen.

If you enjoyed this article, please like, subscribe, and share it with friends.

As always please note that my writings are for educational purposes only.

Links:

https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/chai-tea-health-benefits.html

https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/benefits-of-chai-tea.html

https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/4-keys

https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/materia-medica

Books:

Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee De La Foret, p. 311

Forage, Harvest, Feast – A Wild-Inspired Cuisine – by Marie Viljoen

The Savory Way –  High-Spirited, Down-to-Earth Recipes from the Author of The Greens Cookbook – Deborah Madison

Warm sunshine and temperatures in the 60s (Fahrenheit) promised spring would return and tempted me outside again. 

To my delight, the mornings were warm enough to sit outside on the porch and watch the sunrise with a hot cup of coffee and a blanket wrapped around my shoulders.  From where I sat on my porch, I could see my bee hive.

I knew once the afternoon sun warmed the hive, I could visit the bees and peek inside to see how they were doing.  I was nervous and excited to check on them. 

(this is a picture from summer for you as I forgot to take a picture this week)

The wild winter winds and frigid temperatures the week before had been rough on the hive.

The wind had blown cold rain in through the entrance.  To make things worse, unbeknownst to me, the weight of the honey had caused the hive stand to sink into the ground at the wrong angle, so the water ponded on the hive floor. 

Luckily, I did check on my bees, and I was able to re-level the stand so that the water drained out the front.  However, it was too cold to chance opening the hive.  I had to wait and see if any bees had survived.

So, on this gift of a sunny afternoon, I walked down the drive to visit my bees.  They were busy buzzing around the hive and flying in and out.

Some bees were even returning with bright red pollen on their legs.  I was excited for their lucky find, and I was curious to know what plant they were able to harvest pollen from after a week of arctic weather. 

I quickly opened the top cover and placed some winter sugar board inside for them to eat.  By the weight of the hive, I was guessing that the honey was about gone.  It had been too easy to lift and level the hive.  When it was full of honey, it was too heavy for me to move.  So perhaps I was just in time.    

I replaced the cover and sat with the bees awhile.  I breathed a sigh of relief as I listened to them buzzing inside the hive.  I had been so worried about them in the cold and rain, and I had imagined the worst.  As a new beekeeper, I still felt awkward and unsure of myself in tending a hive.

I don’t think I can explain to you the joy that the bees bring me.

I cannot explain exactly why I was so determined to welcome them here last year when I rushed to find bees for my land.  I can tell you that my relationship with the bees is beyond words.  My reason for keeping bees is beyond logic.

I have not taken any honey from the hive this year.  The bees have not made me any money.  Yet I am aware that the bees are a beautiful contribution to my land and my life. 

The sound and vibration of their humming makes me smile.  The smell of their warm hive on a hot summer day delights me.

I am grateful and happy to be with them here on my land as I settle into my home.

(This is a picture of one board from the hive taken early in the year.  We were checking the boards for the queen and the health of the hive.  This is a picture of the queen – the larger bee in the center – earlier this year)

I consider myself a beetender rather than a beekeeper.  The bees are welcome here.  They are welcome to their honey.  It is the fruit of their labor.  If next year they have honey in abundance, I would like to have a jar or two for myself.  What a treat it would be to taste!  This year, their first year, the hive was still small and they required their honey for the winter. 

There are many books about bees.  My favorite is Song of Increase: Listening to the Wisdom of Honeybees for Kinder Beekeeping and a Better World by Jaqueline Freeman, Susan Cherkan McElroy (Foreword by).

This book is incredibly unique.   The author allows the bees to tell their own story. 

They share about the magic of the queen’s mating flight, the communion of bees and flowers, and how they create their home.

If you don’t believe that it is possible to listen to the bees and hear them tell their story, perhaps reading Song of Increase will convince you otherwise. 

If you do believe that it is possible to listen to the bees and hear them tell their story, then don’t miss this chance to learn from them. 

The honeybees are wise teachers.  Just as we can learn from the plants, we can learn from the bees, if we are willing to listen.

Listening to your body is a powerful tool.  I believe this tool is essential in working with herbs.

Bodies have energetics.  These energetics change with the seasons, throughout the month and even throughout the day. 

The categories of energetics that I am referring to may be familiar to you.  They are Hot / Cold, Dry / Damp and Tense / Lax. 

Defining and teaching how to identify energetics in your body is a class in itself.  In fact, there are some fabulous books and classes on this topic already available.  I will share some links for you below. 

After you have studied energetics, and are familiar with how they are defined, you will still find yourself, sitting with your body, asking your body to reveal to you what your energetics are.

This may feel like a very strange thing to do.  In this reality, we are not often taught to listen to our body.  The idea that my body is my friend, and I can trust my body may sound really odd to you.

What if that is not a problem?  What if listening to your body is just a choice.

Let’s acknowledge the beauty in sitting with your body and asking it to be your compass. 

What a wonderful friend your body is, to sit with you, and share the clues that guide you to an awareness of where it is thriving and where it is struggling. 

What a wonderful relationship you are creating with your body when you learn to identify hot / cold, dry / damp, tense / lax feel in your body, then choose to support your body in finding balance.

Now, let’s check in with where you are today.  There is no right or wrong answer here, so no stress.

Are you aware of your own body’s energetics?  If yes, wonderful!  Stay tuned in and acknowledge the changes that you feel as you work with herbs.  Be willing to receive the clues that your body offers you and ask your body to be your compass.

Or, are you feeling hopelessly confused about your own body’s energetics?  What if that’s ok?  What if working with herbs is a chance to tune in with all your senses, listen to your body, notice your energetics, and let your body be your guide?

What if your body can help you choose the herbs that are the greatest contribution to you?

What if your body is aware of how much and how often it would like you to work with an herb?

What about your brain you say?  By no means, am I telling you not to use your brain.  The brain is wonderful at certain tasks.  However, giving the brain full control over decision making for your body can exclude your body’s awareness.

What if you can choose to include your body when you make a choice?  What possibilities for balance and healing might that create in your life?

If this conversation intrigues you, and you would like more tools to Trust Your Body, stay connected with me here on my Herbal Joy Substack.  I will share some pragmatic and energetic tools that helped me learn to trust my body’s awareness.  

My body is now my compass in my herbal practice.  In fact, I am leaning into my body’s awareness more often and allowing my body to guide me in my life choices as well.  My body’s joy in being in nature has guided me to my new home at the base of the mountains in the Cherokee forest.   My body’s delight at the aroma and potency of herbs has inspired me to be here today as an invitation to Herbal Joy and share my love of herbs with you! 

__________________________________________________________

Here are links to some of my favorite resources that I have used for studying energetics: 

Rosalee De La Foret has a free online course named Herbal Jumpstart to help you discern your energetics and how to choose an herb for you. 

Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism has a course named Energetics & Holistic Practice that goes more in depth and discusses the energetics of herbs, the energetics of illness and the energetics of the person. 

Kat Maier is the author of a book titled Energetic Herbalism: A Guide to Sacred Plant Traditions Integrating Elements of Vitalism, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine  

Listening to your body is a powerful tool! 

I believe this tool is essential in working with herbs.

Bodies have energetics.  These energetics change with the seasons, throughout the month and even throughout the day. 

The categories of energetics that I am referring to may be familiar to you.  They are Hot / Cold, Dry / Damp and Tense / Lax. 

Defining and teaching how to identify energetics in your body is a class in itself.  In fact, there are some fabulous books and classes on this topic already available.  I will share some links for you below. 

After you have studied energetics, and are familiar with how they are defined, you will still find yourself, sitting with your body, asking your body to reveal to you what your energetics are.

This may feel like a very strange thing to do.  In this reality, we are not often taught to listen to our body.  The idea that my body is my friend, and I can trust my body may sound really odd to you.

What if that is not a problem?  What if listening to your body is just a choice.

Let’s acknowledge the beauty in sitting with your body and asking it to be your compass. 

What a wonderful friend your body is, to sit with you, and share the clues that guide you to an awareness of where it is thriving and where it is struggling. 

What a wonderful relationship you are creating with your body when you learn to identify hot / cold, dry / damp, tense / lax feel in your body, then choose to support your body in finding balance.

Now, let’s check in with where you are today.  There is no right or wrong answer here, so no stress.

Are you aware of your own body’s energetics?  If yes, wonderful!  Stay tuned in and acknowledge the changes that you feel as you work with herbs.  Be willing to receive the clues that your body offers you and ask your body to be your compass.

Or, are you feeling hopelessly confused about your own body’s energetics?  What if that’s ok?  What if working with herbs is a chance to tune in with all your senses, listen to your body, notice your energetics, and let your body be your guide?

What if your body can help you choose the herbs that are the greatest contribution to you?

What if your body is aware of how much and how often it would like you to work with an herb?

What about your brain you say?  By no means, am I telling you not to use your brain.  The brain is wonderful at certain tasks.  However, giving the brain full control over decision making for your body can exclude your body’s awareness.

What if you can choose to include your body when you make a choice?  What possibilities for balance and healing might that create in your life?

If this conversation intrigues you, and you would like more tools to Trust Your Body, stay connected with me here on my Herbal Joy Substack.  I will share some pragmatic and energetic tools that helped me learn to trust my body’s awareness.   

My body is now my compass in my herbal practice.  In fact, I am leaning into my body’s awareness more often and allowing my body to guide me in my life choices as well.  My body’s joy in being in nature has guided me to my new home at the base of the mountains in the Cherokee forest.   My body’s delight at the aroma and potency of herbs has inspired me to be here today as an invitation to Herbal Joy and share my love of herbs with you!  

__________________________________________________________

Here are links to some of my favorite resources that I have used for studying energetics: 

Rosalee De La Foret has a free online course named Herbal Jumpstart to help you discern your energetics and how to choose an herb for you. 

Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism has a course named Energetics & Holistic Practice that goes more in depth and discusses the energetics of herbs, the energetics of illness and the energetics of the person. 

Kat Maier is the author of a book titled Energetic Herbalism: A Guide to Sacred Plant Traditions Integrating Elements of Vitalism, Ayurveda, and Chinese Medicine  

1. The blank Herbal Joy Holistic Herb of the Month Template PDF file for download

Herbal Joy Holistic Herb Of The Month Template

44.4KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Please let me know what you think about this approach.

2. A sample template that I filled in with my notes on my body’s energetics today, choosing to support my body and heart health by working with Chamomile.

Sample Herbal Joy Holistic Herb Of The Month Notes

66.4KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

I am focusing my monthly herbal studies in a new way this year, and I created a template to help me stay focused.

Of course, you are invited to study along with me!

I will figure out how to post the template on Substack so I can share it with you :-) I am still learning my way around Substack, so thank you for your patience.

Here’s a little background on how this template came to be:

Last year, in my Tellico Plains Herbalist study group, we chose an herb to study each month based on the seasons and what herbs were growing at the time. This is a beautiful way to study herbs and connect more with the seasons and the earth. To help organize our studies last year, we chose Rosalee De La Foret’s book Wild Remedies as a study guide. We will continue to use her book this year as it is a wonderful reference book.

This year, I am creating a new template for my study notes that I will share with the group. The template is called Herbal Joy - Holistic Herbalism Notes.

The template reflects one of my main intentions in working with herbs, which is to listen to my body and learn to work with herbs that support my body.

I will still choose an herb of the month, but I will start by focusing on my body.

Each month, I am choosing an area of my health that I would like to support, checking in with my body’s energetics, and then choosing an herb that can support my body and energetics in this area.

Lots of herbalists talk about the importance of learning your own body’s energetics, and have a practice of doing this. So this is not a unique idea. However, I feel that this study page will be a wonderful way for me to remind myself to tune into my body and take an holistic approach to my studies.

The inspiration for choosing an area of health to support comes from Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism’s Herbal Community Care Toolkit. The toolkit has chapters that tie to different areas of health, such as Heart Health, Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, etc… The toolkit focuses on herbs that are easy to obtain; many of the herbs can be found at a grocery store. The toolkit is priced so that it is affordable and Katya and Ryn at Commonwealth encourage their students to use the Herbal Community Care Toolkit as a study guide. How does it get any better than that?

Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism also has a free online course titled Four Keys to Holistic Herbalism. If you’re not sure what holistic herbalism means, this is a wonderful resource. It is free and easy to understand. I have woven these four keys into my study template to help me remember to take an holistic approach in my own work with herbs.

If you would like to join the study group, please purchase the Herbal Community Care Toolkit from Commonwealth Holistic Herbalism.

I do not get any money from recommending them, I just think they have an awesome toolkit! They have pricing options for folks who need assistance, so please see that info on their page.

We will watch the videos on our own, I will not be copying or sharing that information here.

I will be sharing what herb I chose to support my body, how I chose it, how I worked with it, and how my body responded.

I would love to hear about your experience listening to your body and working with the herb of the month that you choose.

Keep scrolling for a pasted copy of the template.

What’s next?

I will post a pdf version for you as soon as I figure out how to do that. The template could use some better graphic design, so please be kind. I will work on that as time allows.

Then, in a separate post, I will share my personal template for the start of January. At the end of the month, I will update it with my notes on my work with the herb.

As we study together, you can share your experiences through the discussion threads. I may also create a zoom meeting once a month so we can chat about our studies together. Please let me know if that sounds fun to you!

HERBAL JOY

HOLISTIC HERBALISM STUDY NOTES

MONTH:

________________________________________________

INTENTION:

Listen to my body and be aware of my body’s energetics.  Focus on an aspect of my health each month and choose an herb of the month to support this aspect of my health.

HEALTH ASPECT TO SUPPORT:

HERB OF THE MONTH:

MY BODY’S ENERGETICS TODAY: (HOT/COLD, DRY/DAMP, TENSE/LAX)

FUN MOVEMENT:

SUPPORT FOR SLEEP:

MINDFULNESS:

NOURISHING FOODS:

NOTES:

It makes a world of difference in my life to have, as my friend Kimberly says, a “wall of women” who acknowledge me, encourage me and show up for me.  It creates even greater when my male friends are part of my circle and are willing to have my back.

In this reality, we often run into separation, judgement and competition.  Have you noticed that it is not possible to nurture creative energy from the space of judgement?

What if this Substack space of Herbal Joy is an opportunity to create beyond this reality?

Would you like to set an intention to be a part of a Circle of Encouragement?

What might that create in your herbal life and living?

I am certainly not the first herbalist to talk about creating connection and nurturing one another through an herbal network.  I have heard some very talented herbalist educators who speak of a “green circle”, a “mycelium” of herbalists, or a “rooted circle”. 

Let’s follow their shining example and choose to study together here in a Circle of Encouragement.  

Let’s acknowledge each other’s talents and celebrate each other’s accomplishments.  

Do you have an herbal accomplishment you would like to share? 

·      Have you recently started an herbal training course?

·      Maybe you have recently completed an herbal training course?

·      Have you created a new recipe?

·      Or perhaps you have just made your first herbal oil?

·      What herbal talents and abilities would you like us to celebrate with you?

Please share in the comments below.

Of course, herbs themselves make fun gifts:  herbs as food, herbs as tea, herbs for steams, and so many other possibilities!  

Are you sharing herbs with friends and families this season?
Do you have a favorite herbal recipe that you would like to share?

There are many wonderful cookbooks and books on herbs.  I picked one of my favorites to share with you today.  This is an older cookbook that I found at a library book sale.

It is a cookbook called The Savory Way, and I would like to share a quote from the author.

“A book about food and cooking could not come about in a vacuum.  Friends who have shared their warmth and support as well as many meals are what have made this book possible.  Without them the joy of cooking would indeed be faint.”

I picked this quote because it acknowledges the magic of sharing food with friends.

It is easy to find herbal recipes on the internet today, and it is fun to prepare them at home.  Yet without friends to share the delights of recipes, food and herbs, “the joy of cooking would indeed be faint.”

Unfortunately, these days, we cannot always sit in person with our friends and family around the kitchen table.  Yet through the wonder of the internet, we can gather around a virtual kitchen table and share recipes today.

I have chosen to share a recipe from The Savory Way for Rosemary Butter with Sage and Juniper. 

This is a timely recipe for winter in my area as both sage and rosemary are still available in the garden.  I just harvested the last of my sage, and was looking for recipes that highlight her.

I love both the smell and the taste of rosemary.  I have been simmering rosemary on my stove recently to freshen the air this winter.   

I also have juniper berries on hand for the first time, and I am learning how to work with them. 

So, this butter recipe jumped out at me.   If you are not a fan of butter, you could substitute goat cheese.  That sounds like a delicious recipe as well. 

Juniper has a strong flavor, so I may adjust down the juniper.  I have a spice grinder that I can use instead of pounding them. 

It is interesting to note that juniper berries are not actually berries.  There is more than one variety of juniper, and a certain time for harvesting them.  So if you are not used to growing and harvesting juniper, it is probably best to buy a small spice jar.

Rosemary Butter with Sage and Juniper

from The Savory Way by Deborah Madison

“These herbs lend a robust taste to the butter that’s especially appropriate for winter.  It’s excellent with roast potatoes.  This is a strong infusion of tastes; a little will go a long way.

Makes ½ cup

• ½ cup unsalted butter, at room temperature

• 1 tablespoon finely chopped rosemary leaves

• 2 teaspoons finely chopped sage leaves

• 12 juniper berries, pounded

• Freshly ground pepper

• 1 or 2 garlic cloves, pounded until smooth (optional)

Cream the butter until soft; then stir in the rest of the ingredients.  Add the garlic if you wish.

What are your favorite winter herbs?

Do you have a favorite recipe this week that you can share?

Please feel free to post your herbal recipe in the comments.  

You might think you don’t have an herbal recipe to share.  Remember your kitchen spices are herbs too.  You may have a favorite savory recipe, or a sweet recipe.  Drink recipes count as recipes.  Herbal waters and teas.  Herbs added to coffee.  It might be a simple recipe with 2 ingredients.  Those are some of my favorites.  It might be a recipe you have taught your children or learned from your grandmother.  Memories that arise from recipes are wonderful!

I am delighted that you are gathering here with us, and I look forward to seeing what you choose to share.  Wishing you herbal joy during the holidays!

This group, and each person here, are at the top of my Gratitude list this year.

You have shown up with curiosity and kindness, and with a willingness to learn and to share. 

It seems to me that the plants bring out a kindness and generosity in us.  They remind us of the abundance of the earth.  When we live in communion with the earth, we begin to realize that there is more than enough for everyone. 

This group would not be the same without each of you.  You have shared your seeds, your plants, your teas, your recipes, and your friendship.  

Because life is busy, everyone cannot always make it to an in-person meeting.  Some folks have said how much they miss the group when they can’t be there.  I miss seeing you as well.  Other folks would like to join, but are far away.

So, I have begun to share my writing about herbalism on a Substack page.  My writing will include some notes from our monthly meetings for those who cannot attend in person. If you cannot make a meeting, you can follow along on Substack.

Substack has a subscription platform.  At this time, all my writing is free.  I am working on creating a podcast where I read my writings out loud that would be available by subscription.

There is no pressure to pay for a subscription on Substack.  Yet there is the possibility of honoring the writer’s work with a subscription.

The name of my Substack page is Herbal Joy. 

By working with herbs and listening to our bodies, I believe that we can create more ease and joy in our lives.   So I invite you to join me online, where I hope to add a little Herbal Joy to your day.

If it feels light for you to follow me on Substack, wonderful!  If not, no worries.   

And as always, I look forward to seeing you in person soon. 

Did you know that when you eat garlic, it supports not only your gut but also your lung health? 

Stop and think about it for a minute.  That garlic breath that is so potent – is full of the pungent aromatics of garlic – and where the aromatics go, the medicinal action goes.  

The constituents of garlic are carried throughout the body and exit through the respiratory pathway of elimination. 

Garlic is powerfully antimicrobial, and it stimulates a mucosal immune response to microbial infections of the lungs.

Garlic in soups and sauces or garlic toast is a favorite of mine, and I believe it helps keep me healthy in the winter. 

I recently found 2 recipes for garlic toast that are simple and creative.

In Forage, Harvest, Feast – A Wild-Inspired Cuisine – by Marie Viljoen

On p. 15, she has a wonderful chapter on Field Garlic.

Marie includes a materia medica entry, information on How to Collect and Prepare field garlic, as well as Cautions that are important to review. 

Plus she has some recipes that combine garlic and fennel.  How creative!  I had never thought of adding fennel to garlic toast.  

I used to think I did not like fennel.  However, recently fennel has been one of my favorite herbs for tea after dinner as I find it supports digestion in a very gentle and soothing way.

So please check out Marie’s recipe for Field Garlic Baguette.  She includes homemade garlic butter, Pickled Field Garlic and Fennel Seed Paste with fresh fennel fronds and field garlic leaves.  

This is more of a recipe for spring, when garlic and fennel are growing fresh, so save it as inspiration for spring if you are reading this in winter.

The second recipe comes from The Savory Way –  High-Spirited, Down-to-Earth Recipes from the Author of The Greens Cookbook – Deborah Madison.

On p. 419 Deborah writes, “Fresh herbs more than any single element in cooking, give life and sparkle to food.  They can transform an ordinary dish into something special.  And for me, one of the greatest pleasures of cooking is handling the aromatic leaves and blossoms of these plans and inhaling their perfumes.”

Deborah’s love for herbs comes through delightfully in her recipes. The garlic toast recipe I discovered in her book is actually for Mushrooms on Toast, Provencale Style.

As it is based on the Provencale style, this recipe uses lots of garlic and olive oil. 

In this recipe, Deborah includes fresh mushrooms, garlic, lemon juice, and chopped parsley plus spices such as salt, pepper and herbes De Provence.

I made this recipe the other day and added a little white wine to the mushroom sauce instead of lemon juice.  It made a delicious little meal.

Thank you for joining me for this Garlic Moment.

I invite you to work mindfully with herbs in the kitchen. 

Spice it like you mean it!

Listen to your body

Learn which herbs support Your Body and choose what brings you Herbal Joy this winter!

If you enjoyed this article, please like, subscribe, and share it with friends. As always please note that this article is for educational purposes only.

Books:

Forage, Harvest, Feast – A Wild-Inspired Cuisine – by Marie Viljoen

The Savory Way –  High-Spirited, Down-to-Earth Recipes from the Author of The Greens Cookbook – Deborah Madison

Links:

https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/4-keys

also see commonwealthherbs.com materia medica course

I began my herbalism studies in the winter. 

Winter evenings are long and dark here in Tennessee.

I was looking for a way to stay connected to nature and to keep my mind positively focused.  

For years, I had resisted the cold, darkness of winter, with its longer nights and shorter days. 

I complained. I stayed indoors. I accepted depression as a necessary evil.

In recent years, I have said “No More” resisting winter!

I have asked instead, “What is winter inviting me to receive?”, and I fell in love with the smell of the pine trees and the sound of the river on long walks up mountain roads that led me to discover old cabins, schoolhouses and cemeteries.

The history of these spaces invited me to wonder about the lives of the women who lived there, before electricity and air conditioning, when wood stoves warmed houses, and mothers and grandmothers cooked meals lovingly made from food that the families grew themselves.

Now winter is for me…

• the warmth of a fire in the morning as my hands enjoy holding a hot mug of coffee spiced with cinnamon and honey;

• the invitation of a cozy kitchen with simmering pots on the stove as tantalizing smells of herbs and spices fill the air;

• time for winter hikes and adventures in the mountains where I find the beauty of a winter wonderland after the snow falls on the pines

and I believe that,

The coldest winter day is made warmer when friends gather, when food is shared, and that finding herbal joy is as easy as boiling water for a cup of tea.

So, here I am, inviting you to join me in choosing Herbal Joy!

Herbal Joy In The Kitchen is a seasonal class that I offer in person in Tellico Plains, Tn. I teach about herbs as food and share recipes that include seasonal herbs. Every body is different, and I invite you to include your body’s awareness as you choose herbs to add to your recipes and your life.

This winter’s Herbal Joy In The Kitchen class was a Chai Tea Adventure.

I am happy to share it here with you, so you can have a taste of an Herbal Joy In The Kitchen class where we acknowledge

-that as the seasons change, new herbal friends invite us to play

-that working with herbs adds life and sparkle to food

-and that for each of us, our body is our best guide as we learn to choose herbs for support

A Chai Tea Adventure

This year, as winter approaches, my body is asking for Chai tea.

Not just for a cup of Chai tea, but for an adventure with Chai tea!

What fun can we have exploring and playing with Chai?

Chai has a rich history in India, where it is a daily beverage. Some of you may already have a deep friendship with Chai. I did not happen to grow up in a family that drank chai tea.

So, in my early 40s, chai tea was something I ordered at Starbucks. That might be where you are today.  And what if that’s ok?  And what if that Starbucks chai beverage is an invitation to herbal possibilities?

When you taste chai tea, listen to your body.

• How does it smell? 

Sit a moment before drinking and breathe in the aroma.

• What individual scents can you identify?

• How does taking the time to enjoy the aroma make your body feel?

Take a sip, and savor all the flavors in your mouth.

• Which flavors does your body desire more of? 

• Which could your body do without?

What if your body is inviting you to more awareness and adventure with herbs?

When I tasted my first chai tea at Starbucks, my body said -  hey! There’s something here that I love. And how can I have more of that in a way that works for me without all the sweet?

For me, Starbucks was too sweet, and my body asked for more chai, but less sugar please.  So, I searched the supermarket shelves for chai tea bags.  I began making chai tea at home – no sugar no cream - instead of coffee in the morning.

Then, a friend served me chai tea with homemade whipped cream, and I smiled.  My body does not desire whipped cream every day, but it is a wonderful treat that I enjoy.  And it was an invitation to play further with Chai.

I found that my personal sweet spot when drinking Chai is to add a splash of heavy cream, just enough to soften the color and the flavor.   

A fun thing about herbs is that there is no one right way to enjoy an herb or a tea blend. Each person can enjoy the adventure of discovering which herbs make their body smile!

This year, my adventure with chai tea began with collecting recipes from other herbalists.  I found several from Rosemary Gladstar and Rosalee De La Foret to play with. (See links and references below.)

Next, I collected the ingredients – high quality dried herbs for blending.  Local organic herbs are wonderful.  When they are not available, I often order from Mountain Rose Herbs.

Rosalee’s recipe encouraged me to invite in a new herbal ally - astragalus. You might not have met Astragalus yet. 

I had already ordered some astragalus for the winter to add more nourishment to broths.  So, adding the herb to chai tea was an easy yes for me.

Astragalus is a root that comes to Western herbalism from Traditional Chinese Medicine, where it is an important qi tonic.  Qi is vital energy, and astragalus is considered to be an immune-building and supportive herb.

There are some cautions on taking astragalus if you are acutely ill or on certain medications.   As always, please work with several trusted resources and listen to your body when working with herbs.

Do you have a favorite chai tea blend? The smell of chai tea simmering on the stove in the kitchen is a winter delight!

Thank you for joining me on this chai tea adventure. My friendship with chai tea has deepened as I have chosen the herbs, enjoyed their aromatics, tasted them individually and savored them as a blend.

Studying and working with chai tea and astragalus has been a fun way to accept the invitation to make new winter herbal allies.

In Spring, I will offer another Herbal Joy In The Kitchen class.  As the days grow warmer, the plants will again offer us new herbal allies and nourishment for our bodies.

Please keep an eye out on Substack for Spring Herbal Joy In The Kitchen, or join us in person in East Tennessee.

If you enjoyed this article, please like, subscribe, and share it with friends. As always please note that this article is for educational purposes only.

Links:

https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/chai-tea-health-benefits.html

https://www.herbalremediesadvice.org/benefits-of-chai-tea.html

https://online.commonwealthherbs.com/courses/4-keys

Books:

Alchemy of Herbs by Rosalee De La Foret, p. 311

Forage, Harvest, Feast – A Wild-Inspired Cuisine – by Marie Viljoen

The Savory Way –  High-Spirited, Down-to-Earth Recipes from the Author of The Greens Cookbook – Deborah Madison

The park rangers had lowered the gates just past the first little parking lot. So I stopped and parked there to explore. I had my winter hiking boots and warm coat with a wool hat and gloves. The cold didn’t bother me at all. Rather the brisk air was invigorating, and I felt glad to be alive.

A short path from the parking lot wound down to the river. On the right at the bottom of the path, I found the Grandmother tree. The beauty and strength of this tree, with her roots exposed, drew me to her. I felt I could lean into her strength like a child leaning into a hug from a grandmother. Her years of wisdom, her gentle presence, were welcoming and encouraging.

The moss has grown over her roots where the water has washed away the soil. So that when you stand below her by the water, her moss and roots are at eye level. It makes it easy to pause and enjoy the beauty of the soft, delicate moss that you might miss otherwise.

These photos are recent, taken on a sunny Autumn day. No snow in sight.

I find such comfort in this tree, that I call her Grandmother Moss. For me, she connects me with the spirit of all the Grandmothers who are gone now. The ones I remember and the ones I never met.

My father’s mother in Montana and my Mothers mother in California.

My distant great, great, (maybe another great?) grandmother who snuck out of a window in England with her baby in her arms and ran away to the United States.

All the Celtic grandmothers, in Scotland and Ireland and even the mountains of Tennessee.

The indigenous grandmothers who sat in circle and shared their teachings with me.

All the indigenous grandmothers from all the nations who prayed for their children and their children’s children.

Seven generations before and seven generations after.

Those prayers cover me and my children, and their children, and you and your children. For these grandmothers were wise enough to pray and to include all children in their prayers.

All this I believe. And I continue their prayers, seven generations before and seven generations after.

And as I was invited into circle, into prayer, I invite you.

Please find a place where nature nurtures your mind, soul and body, and lift your heart in prayer for all the children for all generations.

“May they be blessed, may they live in peace. May their hearts be filled with the light of God, so that as they grow, they may learn to pray for all the children of the world…

“May they be blessed, may they live in peace. May their hearts be filled with the light of God, so that as they grow, they may learn to pray for all the children of the world…

“May they be blessed, may they live in peace. May their hearts be filled with the light of God, so that as they grow, they may learn to pray for all the children of the world…

“May they be blessed, may they live in peace. May their hearts be filled with the light of God, so that as they grow, they may learn to pray for all the children of the world….

Amen and Amen in all the languages of the world.

I am still figuring out this whole substack app so thank you for your patience.

So despite any confusion or glitches, I’m glad to be here. Imperfectly perfect.

Sharing, connecting, and encouraging because along the way, some very special people have encouraged me.

Perhaps you can relate to how I feel sometimes. After staring at the computer too long, my eyes become glazed over, my head aches and my body feels tired.

“Too long” can change day to day for me. And “too long” can be different for different people.

What if there’s no right or wrong amount of time? What if we can listen to our body and honor it by choosing something that rejuvenates us?

Nature never lets me down. I always find soothing refreshment in nature. It may come from wild winds or gentle breezes; it may come from crashing ocean waves or cold mountain streams. Sometimes it’s just digging my hands in a pot of dirt and caring for a tiny plant.

Yesterday I chose to return to one of my favorite places in nature. My favorite place is not just the Smoky Mountain National Park. My favorite place is a spot near a small parking lot just inside the entrance to the park on the quiet side of the Smokies. Here I can stand under a particular grandmother tree right next to the river. This beautiful wise tree has rich, thick moss growing over her roots. I call her Grandmother Moss. She welcomes me every time I enter the park. I will share some pictures of her in another post. I speak with her often. Perhaps you have a favorite wise tree you visit I’d love to hear about your experience too.

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And just like that she had me

enthralled by her beauty

captivated by her magic  

The sunlight filtered past her changing leaves.

They fell gracefully, spinning, decorating the forest floor.  

The deep green leaves still shaded the treetops.  

A red leaf caught my eye like a jewel on the ground.  

With eyes closed, I felt her peace 

smelled her warmth,

heard the dance of the wind through the trees and over the lake..

My resentment at her for chasing my beloved Summer away melted.  

I rested in her beauty

my soul restored

my heart full 

ready for new adventures

with Autumn as my muse

I felt my weariness grow as the fall colors spread.

The sun rose later and set earlier. 

My energy waned.

My determination faltered.  

Overwhelm lurked at the edges of my life.

I tried to separate myself from this weariness,

to observe it without claiming it.,

to figure a way to outsmart it.  

Music.  Caffeine.  Vitamin D.  

Time on the river.  Yoga.  Meditation.  

A new tattoo or two or three?

Psychic advice or energy healing or both?  

A new career or a new city?   

Run!  How far? How fast?  Never enough.

Don’t run. Wait. Sit. Breathe.  

Ask for help.

With what?  

What do I want?

I forget.  

I’m tired of it all.

I can’t recall why I started or where I am going.  

Did you say something?

I can’t hear you.  Let me be.